Today is the final day of this year's Wayne County Fair. Key attraction tonight is the Demolition Derby at 5pm.

Wildcat Men Win By 10 Over Minnesota Duluth

Posted: 02 February, 2013

WAYNE - Sophomore forward Jordan Holdworth scored 15 of his career-high 17 points in the first half to lead four double figure scorers as Wayne State College topped Minnesota Duluth 65-55 in Northern Sun Conference men's basketball Saturday evening at Rice Auditorium in Wayne. The Wildcats move to 13-9 overall and 7-9 in league play while Minnesota Duluth slips to 5-15 and 3-13 in the NSIC following the loss.
Jordan Holdsworth was the go to player for Wayne State in the first half as he scored 15 of the Wildcats’ 31 points before intermission. Minnesota Duluth built up to an eight point lead as they took a 17-9 advantage at the 7:15 mark in the first half of play when Jake Hottenstine got a steal and converted a fast break layup. Patrick Kurth scored three points the old fashion way with a little of five minutes remaining in the first half to cut the WSC deficit to three at 17-14. A UMD jumper by Jordan Reetz pushed the Bulldogs lead to 19-14 before Holdsworth began to impose his will on Minnesota Duluth. Holdsworth scored eight straight points for WSC with two three pointers and a layup to help Wayne State take a one point lead at 25-24. The Wildcats would then end the half on a 6-0 run as LaTroy Wright converted a three point play, Adol Aluong made a layup of an assist by Wright and Ty Bauschek made one of two free throws with two seconds remaining in the first half to send the ‘Cats into the locker room with a 31-24 lead.
Wayne State wasted little time in the second half bolstering their lead to double-digits at 36-26 when Derrell slammed the ball home with one hand with 18 minutes remaining in regulation. After a back-and-forth game for the next three minutes, the Wildcats slammed the door on the Bulldogs when Amry Shelby gave Wayne State a 43-32 advantage and Wayne State would hold a double-digit lead the rest of the contest. WSC would achieve their biggest lead of the game at 22 points when Derrell Williams scored five straight points to give the ‘Cats a 65-43 edge with 2:28 left in the game. Minnesota Duluth would try to fight their way back into the contest but Wayne State held them off to preserve the 10 point victory with a final score of 65-55.
The Wildcats shot 45.7 percent as a team going 21-46 from the field while shooting 38.5 percent from long range (5-13) and were 18-24 from the free throw line (75.0%). The Bulldogs were 21 of 49 from the field (42.9%) while shooting 25.0 percent from behind the arc (3-12) and 76.9% from the charity stripe (10-13). Wayne State pounded UMD on the boards outrebounding them 35-22 while also holding advantages in assists (10-8) and blocks 3-2.
Four Wayne State players scored in double-figures as Jordan Holdsworth led the team with a career-high 17 points. Derrell Williams was second on the team with 14 points, Amry Shelby netted 13 points and LaTroy Wright chipped in 10 points. Williams was the team’s leading rebounder with seven and Wright dished out a team-high four assists. Minnesota Duluth was led by Peter Crawford who was the only UMD player in double-digits with 15 points.
Wayne State pounded the offensive boards snaring 10 throughout the contest to hold a 16-2 advantage in second chance points while the Minnesota Duluth bench outscored WSC’s bench 20-4. Both teams had 26 points in the paint and four fast break points.
The Wildcats will be on the road next weekend, visiting Northern State Friday night at 8 p.m. followed by a Saturday night 6 p.m. Northern Sun Conference game at MSU Moorhead.